In the first installment of Garth Nix’s Keys to the Kingdom series Arthur has a vicious asthma attack. When from nowhere a man, Mr. Monday, appears and hands him a key, that resembles the minute hand from a clock, his breathing eases, and his life is saved. Only this is just the beginning of a ver... more

In the first installment of Garth Nix’s Keys to the Kingdom series Arthur has a vicious asthma attack. When from nowhere a man, Mr. Monday, appears and hands him a key, that resembles the minute hand from a clock, his breathing eases, and his life is saved. Only this is just the beginning of a very odd chapter in Arthur’s life. When he wakes up in the hospital he still has the key and things in Arthur’s life take a sharp turn into a perplexing and super weird way. Mr. Monday sends Fetchers to recover the key. They resemble dogs and release a deadly sleeping sickness. Arthur must save his world by recovery of the rest of the key, Monday’s defeat, and becoming Master of the Lower House. Garth Nix’s tale of a 7th grader with severe asthma shows that courage and determination are not impeded by a person’s physical ailments. His main character, Arthur, is an unlikely hero that perseveres despite his condition. The entire cast of characters is full of strong well-rounded personalities with goals of their own, but meld efforts together to achieve a common goal. Each needs Arthur to succeed becoming the Master of the Lower House. I highly recommend this book.